Changes — inner, outer, for better or for worse

Unconditional Love

Linda’s wiring system was such that she recoiled at human touch. Sounds screeched in her head.Images loomed large.The world was terrifying.She self-preserved in an invisible shell.There she rocked herself to sleep and blocked out sounds by counting or quietly reciting songs.Today she’d fall under the wide autism spectrum, but back then, “What a strange child,” were common whispers.Her mother felt rejected and her father alienated.Her little sister, though, refused to be ignored.She nagged and prodded. She hugged even when hugs went unreturned. Eventually she cracked the shell and forged a forever bond.